VANCOUVER – New multi-family residential developments, such as condominiums, built in Vancouver next year will require electric-vehicle charging capabilities in every parking stall except those for visitors.
City council approved the plan on Tuesday, amending building bylaws effective Jan. 1, 2019 to increase EV-ready residents’ parking stalls to 100 per cent from the current level of 20 per cent.
The recommendations prepared by city staff estimated the cost per stall would be as much as $300.
The new regulations are part of the municipal government’s effort to achieve carbon neutrality for Vancouver by 2050. The transportation sector accounts for 41 per cent of the city’s carbon emissions, a staff report found.
Other measures include expanding Vancouver’s public charging network, increasing the budget for installing DC fast-charging and Level 2 charging stations and providing preferential parking for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
The staff report also expressed support for a provincial or national ZEV mandate, essentially quotas for EV sales. It noted a survey found only 30 per cent of Vancouver’s 27 auto dealerships had a single EV to test-drive or buy.
